Bihar announces 16-day lockdown as cases surge

PATNA: The Crisis Management Group (CMG) of Bihar, headed by chief secretary Deepak Kumar, has decided to re-impose lockdown restrictions in the state from July 16 until July 31 amid a spike in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases.

Bihar has reported 18,853 Covid-19 positive cases till date, including 1,432 new ones on Tuesday. The state has reported 4,523 new Covid-19 positive cases over the past four days.

No public transport would be allowed. However, air and rail transport will remain functional. In addition, commercial vehicles, such as taxis and auto rickshaws, and private vehicles will be permitted. There would also be no ban on construction activities and hotels will be allowed to operate for takeaways and deliveries, as per the order.

However, places of worship, educational institutes would remain closed, with all religious congregations banned. Shops dealing in essential services would remain open.

MUMBAI: A 32-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with clinical depression two years ago, was forced to skip the appointments with her psychiatrist for three months after the lockdown was imposed in March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). A cash crunch — her spouse had lost his job and income was tight — made it difficult for her to continue her therapy. But she resumed her sessions in the last week of June. And it was a stranger on Twitter who made it happen, as he offered to pay for her next few counselling sessions.

Ankit Gupta, a content writer and Urdu poet who has been living in Delhi for the past year, has been using Twitter to connect those expressing a need for menthe tal health help with two psychologists based in Mumbai and Delhi, who have slashed fees and agreed to conduct online or telephonic counselling during the lockdown.

“Ever since the lockdown was implemented, I’ve heard of several people losing jobs and therefore being unable to afford their psychiatric treatments. Professional mental health is expensive in India, and I know this because I have myself overcome depression. I know how tough the struggle is,” said the 27-year-old.

The idea to help people access mental healthcare was sparked by the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who died by suicide on June 14. That’s when he tweeted out his offer to fund counselling sessions for people who couldn’t afford a counsellor.

After the tweet offering to help pay for counselling sessions, more than 20 people connected